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"The face of the operation is Briatore (referred to exclusively in the film by his colleagues and angry, chanting detractors as "Flavio"), an anthropomorphic radish who spends most of his time at QPR plotting to fire all of the managers."

At press time, Harbaugh had sent Michigan’s athletic department an envelope containing a heavily annotated seating chart, a list of the 63,000 seat views he had found unsatisfactory, and a glowing 70-page report on section 25, row 12, seat 9, which he claimed is “exactly what the great sport of football is all about.”

Labor Day Games Open Thread

On tap for later tonight is the big one, Boise State vs. Virginia Tech. Right now Maryland is leading Navy 14-0.

I've liked Navy but have not been as big a believer in them as many others. Most of their wins come against the bottom third of 1-A competition. However, most people thought Maryland would be in or close to the bottom third of 1-A teams. The only reason they weren't firing Friedgen is for money reasons.

I know it's early in the game and the season, but is Maryland not going to be terrible this year?

My ESPN Streak for the Cash pick said that Navy would win by more points than Maryland scores TDs + FGs. We'll see how that works out.

of hearing how VT is going to bust out. Every year, they have "all the pieces finally together" and they blow several important games. Until they prove me wrong, I'm ready for the team that actually has an impressive resume (in recent years, at least) to blow Tech away big-time.

The mid-major thing is getting annoying. These teams beat somebody good out-of-conference, then all they have to do to make the BCS is beat the 7 or 8 cupcakes on their league schedule. If they start off the year with a high-ranking then a top-10 finish is practically a self-fulfilling prophecy.

"You will suffer humiliation when the team from my area defeats the team from your area." -- The Onion

Sure, but the Broncos still might just be one of the best teams in the country.* They are doing all that they can in scheduling two OOC games with good teams in VT and OSU (NTOSU), and moving to a better conference.

Because they have done so well recently, teams are not lining up to play them (same chance of losing as against other top programs, without the cachet of beating a Florida or a Texas). Also, because of their small stadium (about 36K, looking to expand into 50-60K), home-and-home games are not very appealing to big time programs.

People also forget that while it is true that they don't play as many quality opponents, they also have a far smaller margin of error in getting to the BCS. A Big Ten, SEC or Big 12 team can lose one or sometimes two games and still play for the NC. BSU has to be undefeated and win convincingly every game.

Just some food for thought.

* - In the interests of full disclosure, I just moved to Boise about 6 months ago, so it is hard not to pull for BSU.

I live in Northern Virginia and I'm surrounded by Tech fans. TV Casters and newspaper writers are usually gaga over Tech, but this year I think they've mellowed out. Even my fan friends, for the most part are expecting Tech to lose. But, I'm tired too of Virginia Tech being perenially overrated.

I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great football team the Boise State Broncos have. I'm sick and tired of hearing about their cupcake, creampuff schedule.
On the other hand VT is 1-25 or something against Top 5 opposition. The only win was at home against Miami. All-time, away from Lane Stadium, VT is 0-22.

VT has been notorious for that choke that ends their national championship hopes...but the real reason I want BSU to lose other than being a VT alumnus...if they win this game, and beat Oregon State, you can circle them in for the National Championship. And that's something I do not want to see. I don't want to see them just glide into the championship because they scheduled cupcakes and went undefeated.

So today is a huge chance to knock Boise State off that championship talk early. :)

I always have loved me some triple option. Such a powerful offense when ran properly. There are only a few head coaches in football that still run it so it is generally very effective and fun to watch.

in the 3rd/4th? there was a botched play where both RBs cut in for the ball and only one came out with it but it was too much cooks in the kitchen and they got bunched all together and lost a yard once the ball emerged.

I would love to see BSU win by one and both teams then run the table. If everyone else has two losses, the BCS could be stuck with a rematch for their MNC game. Why would I love to see this? Because there would probably be at least a "plus one" by next year. After a "plus one," it's only a matter of time before a real playoff and a real champion.

Wow. Navy looks like it scored but WAIT, fumble at the goal line again. They have fumbled at the 6, 2 and now 1 yard line on their last three possessions. By that trend, the rest of their drives should end in a touchdown.

Wow. Ok. You guys posted at 8:21pm that Boise got a TD. It's 8:28pm here and they only just scored the TD. 7 minute delay? WTF? Didn't realize satellite caused that much of a delay. Remind me not to read the board while watching a Michigan game.